This is the most important collection of manuscripts and archives on the history of medicine in Britain. While medicine provides the unifying theme, a vast range of subjects relating to the history of European science and culture is represented.

Collection highlight

Tommy the pony

Tom, also known as Tommy, the first English pony innoculated for diphtheria antitoxine. Photograph from the Lister Institute archive collection, 2nd July 1894.

The Archives and Manuscript Collection is a primary source collection including nearly 9000 manuscripts and over 800 archive collections from the United Kingdom and Europe. The material (in some 25 different languages) dates from antiquity to the 21st century. There are internationally significant holdings in a range of subjects, including:

birth control

genetics and heredity

psychiatry, psychoanalysis and psychology

public health

the colonial encounter/imperial medicine

war and medicine

women in the healthcare professions.

Researching a particular topic? Archivists maintain sources guides to help you identify archives and manuscripts on a specific subject.

Archives

Archives in the collection are concentrated on English-language material from the 20th century created in Britain and its former colonies. The archives include:

personal and family papers, correspondence, notebooks and diaries of scientists, GPs and others

All archives and manuscripts are held in closed stores. In order to view items in the Library, you will need to make an online request through the catalogue.

We recommend you order archive material before your visit as it can take up to four hours to deliver archives and manuscripts to the Rare Materials Room. If you plan to visit on a Saturday, be sure to order your materials by 16.00 on Friday.